On the other hand, I'd like to ask: is it fair to say that not giving communion to infants is a legitimate Western tradition? Or where do you all (anyone who cares to respond) stand on that?

I think the western church stumbled onto something valuable by postponing confirmation and first communion. Nobody remembers anything from their infancy, but older children will always remember their first communion and confirmation. Even some Protestant churches retained some form of confirmation, without considering it a sacrament. Rites of passage are important.

Well, I think at least the eastern churches should maintain their/our tradition of giving infants all three sacraments together.

But having said that, I'm also inclined to think that -- if the Western tradition is ancient and legitimate, which it appears to be -- then why not maintain it as well? (This may be because I'm an LC-gone-Melkite. )

On the other hand, I'd like to ask: is it fair to say that not giving communion to infants is a legitimate Western tradition? Or where do you all (anyone who cares to respond) stand on that?

I think the western church stumbled onto something valuable by postponing confirmation and first communion. Nobody remembers anything from their infancy, but older children will always remember their first communion and confirmation. Even some Protestant churches retained some form of confirmation, without considering it a sacrament. Rites of passage are important.

Well, I think at least the eastern churches should maintain their/our tradition of giving infants all three sacraments together.

But having said that, I'm also inclined to think that -- if the Western tradition is ancient and legitimate, which it appears to be -- then why not maintain it as well? (This may be because I'm an LC-gone-Melkite. )

Sure, there is room for legitimate diversity in this area. The church's sacramental practices have varied a good deal from time to time and place to place. There probably aren't many Catholics or Orthodox who would like to revive the practice of public confession.

I am up for debate on it. I think it is good to do it in infancy but I also agree that if it is a Western tradition that goes back it is not wrong for Western Rite to wait until six or seven. There are a decent deal of people who do not want anything that is "Western" as if Orthodoxy is purely Eastern. Supposedly it was both east and west until the middle of the 11th century or thereabouts.

There are a decent deal of people who do not want anything that is "Western" as if Orthodoxy is purely Eastern.

Just MTCFWIW (my two cents for what its worth), I don't particularly mind Orthodox wanting WRO to be more Eastern ... if they don't then turn around and complain about the latinization of Greek Catholicism.

I am up for debate on it. I think it is good to do it in infancy but I also agree that if it is a Western tradition that goes back it is not wrong for Western Rite to wait until six or seven. There are a decent deal of people who do not want anything that is "Western" as if Orthodoxy is purely Eastern. Supposedly it was both east and west until the middle of the 11th century or thereabouts.

So the East doesn't commune infants?

PP

Logged

"I confidently affirm that whoever calls himself Universal Bishop is the precursor of Antichrist"Gregory the Great

"Never, never, never let anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern." St. John Maximovitch, The Wonderworker

I am up for debate on it. I think it is good to do it in infancy but I also agree that if it is a Western tradition that goes back it is not wrong for Western Rite to wait until six or seven. There are a decent deal of people who do not want anything that is "Western" as if Orthodoxy is purely Eastern. Supposedly it was both east and west until the middle of the 11th century or thereabouts.

I am up for debate on it. I think it is good to do it in infancy but I also agree that if it is a Western tradition that goes back it is not wrong for Western Rite to wait until six or seven. There are a decent deal of people who do not want anything that is "Western" as if Orthodoxy is purely Eastern. Supposedly it was both east and west until the middle of the 11th century or thereabouts.

So the East doesn't commune infants?

PP

Of course it does!

Oh good. I've actually never attended an Eastern Rite Liturgy, so I don't know the ins-and-outs. I did listen to one on youtube because I was curious.

PP

Logged

"I confidently affirm that whoever calls himself Universal Bishop is the precursor of Antichrist"Gregory the Great

"Never, never, never let anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern." St. John Maximovitch, The Wonderworker